Georadar data (72 km) combined with borings and datings form the basis of a study of the
three-dimensional build-up of the middle and late Holocene barrier spit system at Vejers,
Denmark.
The georadar data reveal one barrier spit covering 15-20 km2
, with an average thickness
of approximately 10 meters. This barrier spit shows a tripartite build-up. At the base a
shoal sand unit of well-sorted, fine- to medium-grained sand occurs. The overlying interval constitutes a barrier core unit, stretching from north to south, and composed of alternating layers of westward dipping coarse sand- and gravel layers. At the top of these layers
aeolian sand sheet and dune deposits occur. The barrier core unit is followed to the east by
a back-barrier unit of fine- to medium-grained sand, with a varying content of silt and
plant fragments. These deposits are also overlain by aeolian sediments. A second, smaller
and more inland situated barrier spit occurs in the central and southern parts of the
investigated area.
It appears that barrier spit formation took place in three main stages. The initial stage
occurred between c. 6500 and c. 4000 B.P. (transgressive period). Barrier spit consolidation and rapid growth took place between c. 4000 B.P. and c. 1200 A.D. (early highstand
period). Final development and large-scale dune formation took place after 1200 A.D.
(highstand period).
The dominance of west-ward dipping strata in the spit deposits indicates consistent
seaward progradation of the spit. The shape of the spit indicates southward growth.
Apparently the spit formed under the influence of a strong southward directed littoral drift,
but the overall alignment of the spit was controlled by swash processes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.